Activation of secondary metabolism in fungi

January 28, 2019

Nectriapyrone biosynthesis genes identified

Nectriapyrones are a secondary metabolite produced by various molds, but these research results mark the first time nectriapyrone production has been confirmed in rice blast fungus. By disturbing its intracellular signal transduction system of this pathogenic filamentous fungus, researchers were able to induce nectriapyrone production and identify the biosynthesis gene cluster.

Identification of the biosynthesis genes will make large-scale production and analysis of nectriapyrone physiological functions possible. The team was also able to confirm that nectriapyrones are not required for the fungus to infect rice. They also found that nectriapyrones contribute to the fungus’s interactions with actinomycetes.

These research results will contribute to activation of secondary metabolism in other fungi and obtaining useful physiologically active substances, as well as deepen understanding of the interaction mechanisms between rice blast fungus and other microorganisms.

Original article

ChemBioChem doi:10.1002/cbic.201800620

T. Motoyama, T. Nogawa, T. Hayashi, H. Hirota, H. Osada,

"Induction of Nectriapyrone Biosynthesis in the Rice Blast Fungus Pyricularia oryzae by Disturbance of the Two-Component Signal Transduction System".

Contact

Takayuki Motoyama; Senior Research Scientist

Toshihiko Nogawa; Research Scientist

Hiroyuki Osada; Group Director

Chemical Biology Research Group